Israel Expresses Security Concerns Over Hamas Disarmament Deal

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel has voiced significant security concerns to the White House regarding a proposed disarmament agreement with Hamas. These concerns come amid Israeli military strikes in Gaza that have resulted in at least 17 deaths, including children, according to a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Doron Spielman, representing the Prime Minister’s office, explained that Israel’s intelligence assessment indicates Hamas is focused on rebuilding its military rather than demilitarizing. Spielman emphasized that Israeli forces would remain in Gaza, where they currently control over 60% of the area, until Hamas thoroughly disarms.

Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct. 7-style attack,

Spielman referenced the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that sparked the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. He added, Disarming means physically giving up the weapons. Nothing less.

Spielman’s remarks follow an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a ceasefire agreement, signed nine months ago to end the nearly three-year-long conflict. Hamas has indicated readiness to begin disarming under the U.S.-brokered plan, though numerous challenges remain.

Hamas Says It’s Willing to Disarm

Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal calls for Hamas to relinquish its weapons and dismantle its network of tunnels. The plan also involves Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, forming a new Palestinian government, deploying an international security force, and rebuilding Gaza.

The disarmament of Hamas has impeded negotiations for months. Trump declared on social media that the plan would be executed in structured phases. A verified agreement copy revealed that weapons held by Hamas-run police would transfer to a U.S.-backed Palestinian committee, contingent on other developments.

Once the Palestinian committee arrives and international forces are deployed, a process to decommission heavy weapons and dismantle military sites will commence, linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal.

Israel’s control of Gaza involves mostly destroyed and depopulated areas. Most of Gaza’s 2 million residents live in the other parts, facing adverse conditions in camps and battered neighborhoods.

The upcoming October elections in Israel complicate potential troop movements or concessions. Prime Minister Netanyahu faces election challenges, with coalition partners demanding continued pressure on Hamas and critics faulting his handling of the 2023 attack.

Ongoing Hostilities and Concerns

The intense conflict following Hamas’s 2023 raid left about 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 73,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s military response, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry is viewed as reliable by U.N. agencies, though it does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties; it notes that women and children constitute about half of the fatalities.

Israel Cautions Against Hamas Rearmament

Spielman acknowledged Trump’s commitment to Israeli security and a lasting resolution. However, Israel’s disarmament stance stems from intelligence that Hamas is rearming and bolstering its military capacities.

The White House has not commented further on Hamas’s commitment to rebuilding its military. U.S. officials have stated Israel’s involvement throughout the negotiation process, aligning with previous ceasefire agreements. What Israel communicated to the White House remains unclear.

Two anonymous sources shared that Israel’s communication occurred with Tony Blair, part of the Trump-led peace initiative. They indicated that Israel seeks operational freedom in Gaza and dissociation from Qatar and Turkey during agreement verification. Hamas’s disarmament after confiscation was also a point of contention.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli military actions in Gaza persist, resulting in civilian casualties, including a recent strike killing three family members, one being a 4-year-old child. The Israeli military maintains it is targeting Hamas operatives.